USA XC All Time Team

Salazar? Didn't he get 2nd WXC ?

doubtless wrote:

Another guy worthy of consideration is Bob Kempainen. I don't think he's top 7 but he belongs in that second group with Hall and Torres.

Why? All I know is he won TAC National's in 1990 and broke Pat Porter's streak. He also the top U.S. marathoner for a couple of years (93-96)

1)Adam Goucher

2)Pat Porter

3)Steve Prefontaine

4)Gerry Lindgren

5)Dathan Ritzenhein

6)Meb Kefleghzi

7)Bob Kennedy

First team:

Pat Porter

Frank Shorter

Craig Virgin

Bill Rodgers

Ed Eyestone

Bruce Bickford

Steve Prefontaine

Second team:

Salazar

Lindgren

Kennedy

Ritzenhein

Goucher

Kempainen

Thom Hunt, maybe

McDougal from Liberty

Wow... wrote:

McDougal from Liberty

LOL!

Since this is "USA XC All Time Team", I would rank 5-time champion Doris Brown Heritage (1967-1971) at the top of the list followed by 3-time champion (1990-1992) Lynn Jennings. Craig Virgin is a solid third for sure. You guys can argue about the remaining spots.

This is goofy... like all other rankings... young guys always put current guys on the list that don't belong:

In no specific order:

Salazar

Rogers

Virgin

Williams (can't be left off anyone's list)

Prefontaine

Porter

Eyestone

zippy do da... wrote:

People forget that Teg is about as good at cross country at Ritz, he just doesn't run it ever.

If he don't run it he ain't as good!

Um....he placed 5th in the world as a junior. I'd say he's only about 2 places worse.

Pat Porter, Adams State

Not only on team - THE BEST AMERICAN EVER, period.

what about Dan Dillon??? I believe he finished right behind Nick Rose and John Tracey at NCAA's then went on to be a multi time world xc top 15 finisher. He has to be one of the best XC guys of all time!

1. Craig Virgin ( 2X World XC Champ )

2. Alberto Salazar ( 1 time Silver Medalist (82), 4th place in 83)

3. Pat Porter ( 84 fourth place ), 85 ( 6th ) 86 ( 12th )

4. Ed Eyestone ( 6th Place 84 ).

5. Bill Rodgers ( yes him, 75 World Bronze medalist )

6. Ritz ( based on his world JR race from 01 )

7. Keith Brantly ( 81 World Junior Bronze medalist )

Rupp cannot hold their jocks for them.

I second the "Teg is almost as good as Ritz" gesture.

Don Lash

- won 7 straight AAU XC Champs, a record that stood until Porter broke it in '89

- Lash had WR @ 2miles and AR @ 10k

- doubled 5/10 @ '36 Olympics.

Ed Eyestone sure is getting a lot of love over Ritz. His best XC accomplishment was bronze at the junior race, Ritz did the same. Ritz did it with the greatest XC runner of all time (Bekele) winning it and obviously Ritz is still going and better than ever. They both won NCAA XC, Ritz at 20, Eyestone at 23. And sure, it's high school, but 2 time FL champ is legendary. It's certainly comparable and someone just said Eyestone was 6th once in the senior race? Regardless, I'd definitely take Ritz. And that's not to mention Salazar is ahead of both of them. My List:1. Virgin- he won. 2. Salazar- 2nd and 4th, barely beats Porter's consistent top 10's3. Porter4. Prefontaine- huge talent. I'm showing a lot of respect towards his NCAA wins. I think he could have very possibly been a world champ. I'm doing this mostly objectively, but with a little subjectivity.5. Bill Rodgers- medalled 6. Ritz- after next year I expect to move him up7. EyestoneShorter didn't do anything in XC, no way is he on my list. Kennedy and Eyestone can be swapped if you ask me, Lindgren too.

reg wrote:

First team:

Pat Porter

Frank Shorter

Craig Virgin

Bill Rodgers

Ed Eyestone

Bruce Bickford

Steve Prefontaine

Second team:

Salazar

Lindgren

Kennedy

Ritzenhein

Goucher

Kempainen

Thom Hunt, maybe

Tyson Gay (9.69 Purdy Points = 27:00 10k AR)

Michael Johnson (Solid Gold)

Jeremy Wariner (he should move up)

Breshawn Jackson (hurdles are like xc)

Adam Nelson (He's SO fired up)

Maurice Greene (G.O.A.T.)

"King" Carl Lewis (will accuse everyone else of doping)

idk about that . . . wrote:

Shorter didn't do anything in XC, no way is he on my list.

You mean other than four consecutive national championships?

Not saying he should be top-7 but I wouldn't call that nothing.

Regarding Galen Rupp, you guys are idiots.

How many World XC placings did Salazar, Virgin, Shorter, etc. have while in college? Exactly.

Rupp will have his time. 2010 will be his first year, post-collegiate, and is prepared to begin work on his international resume.

Let's also keep things in context, guys. Pat Porter did not have to race Bekele and Tergat and their 12+ other clones, including those from Qatar and Bahrain and Uganda, etc.

Again look at the history. How old do you think Porter is? And if you want to argue that the Kenyans and Ethiopians, etc weren't representing when Lash was round or Young, Dillon, Salazar, etc. for that matter, remember this.... Most of the top middle distance runners in the world ran cross to prepare for the upcoming track season. Nobody , and I mean nobody except the Yanks and a few Irishmen ran indoor track.